BALTIMORE (September 20, 2025) – Howard University women's volleyball team came up short in Baltimore, dropping a five-set thriller at UMBC (18-25, 25-18, 25-18, 18-25, 11-15).
 
With the setback, HU saw its brief two-match win streak come to a halt.
 
Seniors Rya McKinnon (Hoover, Ala.) and Leah Reeves (Allen, Texas) led the Bison attack, each finishing with a double-double.
 
Both squads were deadlocked early in the opening set, 9-9, until the Retrievers went on a 7-1 run, thanks to several Bison hitting errors, to create separation and win game one, 25-18.
 
HU rebounded in the second set, producing a .412 hitting percentage and tying the match at one apiece, 1-1.
 
UMBC jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the pivotal third set, but the Bison fought back and regained the upper hand with a 6-1 spark, 6-5. Both clubs went back-and-forth until HU closed out the game with a kill from redshirt sophomore Zenai Jethroe (Dallas) and service ace by freshman Alexys James (Houston), 25-18, and gave HU a 2-1 match advantage.
 
UMBC battled back and forced game five, hitting .270 in game four while the Bison had nine hitting errors.
 
In the deciding set, UMBC held off the Bison's late charge to secure the five-set thriller.
 
James flirted with a double-double (45 assists & nine digs), along with six total blocks.
 
Defensively, McKinnon led the way with 17 digs.
 
Howard is set to play a pair of conference matchups inside The Burr. Friday (Sept. 26), the Bison play Coppin State at 6 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 28), HU battles Morgan State at 1 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.